GV 1017 
.C45 W7 
Copy 1 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1893, by M. M. Wilson, 
in the office .of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. j j 



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CHANGERS 
RULES. 



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WASHINGTON: 
PRESS OF W. F. ROBERTS 



1893 



N— 



INTRODUCTION. 

The Game of Changers is the carefully worked- 
out development of an idle amusement of striki?ig 
at unripe fallen apples with a walking stick, 
after throwing them in the air. 

fudging by the approval expressed, and even 
enthusiasm manifested, by some young friends 
who have joined in it, the inventor is encouraged 
to hope that the game has come to stay. 

The skill requisite to play fairly well is easily 
acquired ; but it MUST be acquired before the 
game can give the pleasure and enjoyment which 
it is calculated to afford. 

To the many thousands of people who find 
Lawn Tennis too active a game, Croquet too 
slow, Bowls impracticable, and such games as 
Cricket, Base-ball and Rounders too fatiguing , 
Changers will supply a felt want. 

Young people enjoy the game immensely, but 
there is nothing to hinder elderly persons from 
joining in, while allowing the youngsters to do 
the running about as Fags. A special feature 
of the game is that the Player or Batsman has 



no running to do, but has ample opportunity for 
the exercise of skill. 

As the bat is very light, and the ball hollow y 
ladies may play with co?nfort and safety, and 
will find this game a very pleasant alternative 
to Tennis, which is now becoming more largely 
a game for gentlemen, owing to the development 
of high-class play. 

The fluctuations of the scoring and the 
glorious uncertainty of Changers make it suf- 
ficiently exciting, while the desire to attempt 
and the pleasure of accomplishing the more 
difficult strokes make it very i?iteresting and 
fascinating when moderate proficiency has been 
attained. 



INSTRUCTIONS 

TO LAY OUT THE GAME. 

The best ground on which to play this game 
is manifestly a good Tennis-lawn, but it is not 
essential that the ground should be so carefully 
prepared as for Tennis. Any piece of moderately 
smooth closely-mown grass-plot will do, if level, 
or even if slightly sloping, provided the descent 
is somewhat in the direction of from north to 
south. The necessity for this aspect will be seen 
by the following: — 

Suitable ground having been chosen, the end 
towards which the Player must stand should be 
selected, so that the Player may, so far as possi- 
ble, have his back to the sun when playing ; also, 
if there be any slope to the ground, he must stand 
towards the bottom end. 

From this end of the ground, measure at least 
fourteen feet for the position of the ring-post, but, 
if there be plenty of room, allow a greater dis- 
tance. The hole to receive the ring-post should 
be first of all prepared by means of a spike or 
poker, or other suitable instrument, so that in 
driving the ring-post into the ground it may not 
be necessary to apply much force. The face of 
the rings should be towards the Player, the Player's 
ring being towards his left. 

Having fixed the ring-post, measure off from 
the face of it towards the Player a distance of nine 
feet, and mark a line parallel to the face of the 
ring for the Player's toe-line. Half way between 



8 

this and the ring-post, mark another parallel long 
line for the baulk line. 

From the back of the ring-post, measure seven 
feet to the Feeder's toe-line, and, three feet behind 
this again, mark a line parallel to the baulk line, 
and eight yards in length, of which line there 
should be three yards towards the right and five 
towards the left of the ring-post, reckoning from 
the position of the Player. 

On this line form a square court backwards 
from the Feeder's stand, which court will, of 
course, be eight yards each way if the ground 
will allow of it. If, however, the ground slope 
much, the length of the court from front to back 
might be reduced by about a yard to compensate 
for the fact that the slope of the ground tends to 
check the ball. 

Eight yards square is the largest size of court 
reasonably permissible. Expert Players may agree 
upon a considerable reduction in size, say to seven, 
six, or even five yards square ; but, in making 
the reduction, care should be exercised to takeoff 
half the amount from each side (z. e. right and 
left) of an eight yards wide court duly laid out 
according to instructions, so that the relative posi- 
tion of the court to the ring-post and Player's 
stand may remain unaltered. The entire reduc- 
tion the other way should be taken from the back. 

The accompanying diagram will make these 
directions very clear. 






3 






D 



8 



■ggg j| | 



B 



-X 



A player's toe-line. 

B BAULK-LINE. 
C RING-POST. 



D feeder's toe-line. 

E COURT. 

F F POSITIONS OF FAGS. 



X BEST POSITION FOR UMPIRE. 



IO 

f 

An excellent plan of marking the ground is to 
fasten down strong white cord with staples, 
about three inches in length. 

If it be convenient to fix a net, or similar 
obstruction, of about four feet six inches in 
height, and six feet behind the Player's toe-line, it 
is well to do so, as, besides stopping a missed 
ball, it may serve as a gauge for over-high balls. 

If it should be a matter of importance to pre- 
serve the appearance of the grass, a piece of old 
carpet or matting may be laid for the Player to 
stand on: this cannot very well be in the way of 
anything. A small piece may also be laid on the 
Feeder's stand if the edges are securely fastened 
down so as to avoid any material interference 
with the bounce of the ball, should it happen to 
alight there. When there is plenty of room, it is 
advisable to change the position of the ring-post 
and lay out the game afresh, so as to avoid tramp- 
ling the grass too much in one place. Of course, 
if proper Tennis-shoes are worn the better for the 
grass. 

The game may be played on hard ground, in 
which case very thick cord or rounded lath might 
be used to form the back and sides of the court, 
so as to present a slight obstruction against the ball 
passing out of the court too readily, and thus com- 
pensate, to some extent, for the absence of grass. 

The top of the ring should stand about six 
feet three inches from the ground. 



II 
ARRANGEHENT OF PERSONS PLAYING. 

The game may be played by two, three or 
four persons ; or even a larger number, but this 
is not recommended. If only two play, they are 
called Player and Feeder ; a third and fourth may 
act as Fags. 

It is well to engage an independent Umpire, 
who may act as marker. 

When to play, as the Player goes out the 
Feeder goes in ; when three play, Player becomes 
Fag, Fag becomes Feeder, and Feeder goes in. 
In this case the best position for the Fag to stand 
is at the back of the court. 

When four play, there are two Fags, one stand- 
ing on each side of the court outside behind the 
back, or in any other convenient positions where 
they are not likely to obstruct good balls. 

As Player goes out, the Fag towards his right 
hand goes in, Player becomes left-hand Fag, left- 
hand Fag becomes Feeder, and Feeder becomes 
right-hand Fag; that is when each person is play- 
ing for himself without any partnerships. When 
four persons play, however, it is preferable to 
form sides or partnerships, in which case each 
Player must have an opponent as Feeder, and as 
Player goes out the Feeder should go in ; thus, one 
of each side will play alternately. 

Right or left means the right or left hand of 
the Player when facing the ring. 



13 

HOW TO PLAY. 

The different parties having taken up their 
positions, the game commences by the Player 
throwing the ball into the air (that is feeding 
to himself) and striking it with the bat. He 
has the choice of two objects ; he may either 
endeavour to drive the ball into the court in 
such a manner as to cause it to lodge, or come 
to rest, there; or he may endeavour to strike it 
through the Player's ring right off the bat. If he 
succeed in this latter stroke, he makes '• Ringo." 

The method of striking the ball is of the 
greatest importance for proper playing. It wil' 
be manifest to anyone attempting to strike a small 
ball with a narrow bat, that, if the bat be held in 
a horizontal position, any stroke thus aimed at a 
falling ball must be delivered without much chance 
of taking true aim, and that if the ball once pass 
the mere width of the bat, it must infallibly be 
missed. If, however, the bat be held in an up- 
wright position, and the stroke delivered forward* 
terminating with a downward sweep, it will be 
evident that good aim can be taken at the ball, 
and that, if good aim be taken, the ball must 
pass the entire length of the bat-blade before it can 
be missed. 

By adopting this latter method of striking, a 
practised Player will hardly ever miss a self-fed 
ball, and will probably succeed in lodging such a 



14 

ball in the court four times out of five, or may 
make even a much better average. 

The Player having once fed to himself, the 
next ball must be fed by the Feeder, through the 
Feeder's ring, and the Player may either strike it 
so as to cause it to lodge in the court, or may 
succeed in driving it back through the Player's 
ring right off the bat. This latter stroke is called 
" Ringall," and is much the most difficult and 
least frequently accomplished of any. 

Practically the same method of using the bat 
as before recommended is the best to adopt for 
making these latter strokes, but it is necessary to 
avoid striking the ball downwards if there is to be 
any chance of making "Ringall." Of course, 
with this method of playing, only a ball which is 
fed tolerably high affords an opportunity for driv- 
ing it through the ring. If a ball be delivered 
low, the Player must, of course, use his own 
judgement as to the best way of striking it. 

DEFINITIONS. 

" Ringo " is a stroke in which a self-fed ball is 
driven through the Player's ring right off the bat. 

"Ringall" is a stroke in which a feeder-fed 
ball is driven through the Player's ring right off 
the bat. 

A Failure is a stroke in which the ball is struck 



15 

and lodged beyond the baulk-line, but fails to 
score. 

A Round is an innings each for all the per- 
sons playing. 



LEADING RULES. 



A self-fed court-lodged ball counts One. 

A feeder-fed court-lodged ball counts Five. 

1 ' Ringo " ( caught or uncaught ) counts 
Twenty. 

" Ringall " (caught or uncaught) counts 
Twenty-Five. 

"Ringall" (uncaught), probably wins the 
game. ( See Rule XII.) 

" Game " is Fifty Marks or upwards. 

II. 

The Player must stand quite behind his toe- 
line when making a stroke, but need not stand 
exactly opposite the ring when playing for the 
court. 

III. 

The Feeder must stand quite behind his toe- 
line and directly opposite his ring when feeding, 
but may stand out of the way altogether when 
the Player is trying for the court off a self-fed ball. 



i6 

IV. 

Each Player must commence his innings by 
feeding to himself. 

V. 

After the Player has once fed to himself, the 
next ball should be fed to him through the 
Feeder's ring by the Feeder, and so on alternately. 

VI. 

The Player is out if he miss the ball, or fail to 
drive it so as to lodge beyond the baulk-line, or 
if he strike or obstruct the ball with his hand or 
arm or any part of his person, or if he make five 
successive Failures, or he may be caught out 
according to Rule XIV. 

VII. 

The Feeder, before delivering a ball, must call 
"Play;" and must then feed the ball, with an 
under-hand throw, clear through the ring, No 
overhand or roundhand pitching or volleying is 
permissible, except by special arrangement. 

VIII. 
When the Player wishes to try for " Ringo," 
he must call "Ring" before making the stroke, 
otherwise he cannot score for it. ( Observe Foil. c. ) 

IX. 
When the Player is trying for "Ringo," the 
Feeder must stand at his post until the ball is 



. l 7 

struck or missed, and must not attempt to hinder 
it from passing through the ring, but, if it pass 
through, he may catch it, in which case the 
Player is out. 

X. 

The Feeder may call upon the Player to make 
one stroke for "Ringo" in each game, no matter 
how many the Player may have made volun- 
tarily. :(This option may be of use to check 

the Player and obtain the chance of an innings 
for the Feeder when the Player is on the point 

of winning.) 

XI. 

No game must be regarded as won until each 
person has had an equal number of innings, that 
is, until the Round has been completed ; and, 
apart from ."Ringall" being made, the person 
or side which, on the completion of a Round, is 
found to have a total score of Fifty or upwards, 
or the highest score above Fifty, wins the game. 

XII. 
When "Ringall" is made without the ball 
being caught by the Feeder, the party so making 
it claims the game as against all other scoring, 
provided no opponent succeeds in so making 
it in the same Round. 

XIII. 
Except in " Ringall" or "Ringo" strokes, 



or a re-bound from a manifest obstruction, the 
stopping point of the ball shall be regarded as 
the point from which to decide the success or 
otherwise of each stroke, and, except in the case 
of re-bound from a manifest obstruction, shall 
always be regarded as the point from which to 
decide whether or not the Player is out. 

XIV. 

The Player may not be caught out except 
after successfully making "Ringo" or "Ringall," 
and then only by the Feeder. Thus the Fags 
(as such) are always neutral 

N. B. — It will be seen that " Ringo " must be 
played for, while " Ringall" may be the result of 
a chance stroke. 



A careful perusal of the instructions, defini- 
tions and leading rules will give a clear idea of 
the main features of the game; a little playing 
will quickly show the necessity for the rules 
called Followers, which provide for contingen- 
cies. 

FOLLOWERS. 

To Rule II. 

(a) If the Feeder should notice that the Player 

is standing forward of his toe-line he must call 

upon him to stand back, and, if after such notice, 



19 

the Player shall neglect to stand behind his toe- 
line, any stroke he may succeed in making while 
standing forward shall be accounted a Failure. 

To Rule III. 

(a) If the Player should notice that the Feeder is 
standing in a wrong position when about to feed, 
he may call upon him to stand to his post, and, if 
the Feeder shall disregard such notice, any ball 
delivered by him while standing in the wrong 
place shall be accounted " no ball." and the player 
may refuse to strike at it without being out. If, 
however, the Player strike at such a ball, he shall 
be regarded as consenting to the position of the 
Feeder. 

(b) When the Player is feeding to himself, the 
Feeder should stand clear aside, except when the 
Player is trying for " Ringo;" in which case, after 
calling " Ring," the Player must allow the Feeder 
time to get to his stand. If the Player neglect 
this, and succeed in making "Ringo" while the 
Feeder is away from his post, he can only score 
for ''Ringo "by going out, otherwise he must 
play the stroke again, ignoring the previous stroke 
entirely. 

(c) The Feeder must not leave his stand after he 
has fed the ball until the result of the stroke is 
seen, or until the ball has passed him after being 
struck. He may, however, move aside to avoid 



20 

being struck by the ball, and, after feeding, may 
always move aside sufficiently to come opposite 
the Player's ring in readiness to catch. 

To Rule VI. 
(a) If the ball, after being struck by the Player, 
and after passing the baulk-line, should strike the 
post, or ring, or any manifest obstruction, and 
re-bound behind the baulk-line, the Player is not 
out as he would be for a complete miss, but the 
stroke is a Failure. 

To Rule VII. 
(a) The Player may refuse any ball which has 
been delivered without notice, or which does not 
pass through the Feeder's ring, or if it touch the 
ring in passing through, or if it drop short of 
Player's side of baulk-line; and it should be fed 
again. 

(£) The Feeder must not attempt to surprise the 
Player when off his guard, by suddenly calling 
"Play" and delivering the ball immediately and 
before the Player has had time to get into position. 
If, in the Umpire's opinion, such an attempt has 
been made, he shall rule the ball as "no ball/' 
subject to the provisions of Follower F. 

(c) If, in the Umpire's opinion, a ball has been 
delivered in such a manner that, notwithstanding 
having duly passed through the Feeders ring, it 
has passed so high as to be out of reasonable 



21 

reach of the Player, he shall rule it as "no ball: " 
when, however, a net or other contrivance be- 
hind the Player is used as a guage, the mere fact 
of the ball passing over such net or contrivance 
untouched by the Player, is sufficient to prove it 
"no ball." 

(d) The Feeder should endeavour to throw the ball 
so that it may reach the Player about level with 
his head ; while it is not practicable to always 
succeed in so doing, still any deliberate feeding of 
low, short, or sneaking balls is unfair play. The 
purpose of feeding through the ring is to secure 
something like a fair ball. 

0) The mere fact of the Player striking at a 
badly-fed ball does not signify his acceptance of it 
as a good ball, seeing that he generally has not 
time to decide whether or not the ball is a good 
one before striking. 

(/) The Player is at liberty to strike at any ball 
howsoever fed by the feeder, and, if he succeed 
in scoring, it shall be accounted a good ball; but, 
if the ball be really a bad one, and if the Player 
do no succeed in scoring off it, it shall be accounted 
"no ball," and shall be fed again, with all ordinary 
risks to the Player. (Thus the penalty on the 
Feeder for delivering a bad ball is that he gives the 
Player extra chances). If, however, after striking 
a manifestly bad ball beyond the baulk-line, but 



22 

without scoring, the Player choose to account it a 
good ball, he may do so, and proceed to feed to 
himself, in which case the stroke will count against 
him as a Failure, as it would have done if the ball 
had been really a good one. 

To Rule VIII. 

(a) After the Player has called ''Ring," he may 
not revoke, but must play the stroke. 

(b) After calling "Ring," the Player must allow 
the Feeder time to get to his stand. If the Player 
neglect this, and succeed in making "Ringo" 
while the Feeder is away from his post, he can 
only score for " Ringo" by going out, otherwise 
he must play the stroke again, ignoring the pre- 
vious stroke entirely. 

(V) If the ring be missed when the Player is trying 
for "Ringo," the Player scores nothing, even if 
the ball lodge in the court, so the stroke is 
accounted a Failure. 

(d) " Ringo " shall count even if the ball touch 
the ring in passing through. (This rule also applies 
to "Ringall.") 

To Rule IX. 

(a) If "Ringo" be made it counts even if the 
Player be caught out. (This rule also applies to 
•■/.Ringall.") 



23 

To Rule XI. 

(a) In cases of partnerships the innings shall be 
played all round before a game is finally decided, 
just the same as if each individual were playing 
for himself only. 

(b) In case of a Round resulting in an equality 
of scoring after Fifty has been reached, the game 
shall be continued until a definite result is ob- 
tained. 

To Rule XII. 

(a) When each person is playing for himself only, 
if two or more opponents each make ''RingaH" 
(uncaught) in the same Round, it shall count 
Twenty-five to each, and the game shall, if neces- 
sary, proceed between the persons only who 
have made the "Ringall" strokes, the others be- 
ing out of the game. Afterwards, for the game 
to be won for "Ringall", that stroke must be 
made quite afresh, subject to the same conditions 
as at first. In cases of partnerships, all the par- 
ties will continue to play so long as necessary 
after an equality in "Ringalls" has occurred 
between the two sides. 

\b) The Player who has made "RingaH" 
(uncaught) stall go on playing until he is out, 
and score all he can, including the Twenty-five 
for "Ringall," except when there are no others 
to follow in order to complete a Round. (Of 



2 4 

course, if such Player has only made an 
uncaught "Ringall" against another on the oppo- 
site side, he will go on playing until out in 
any case, unless he has manifestly won the game 
by mere scoring, being the last Player in the 
Round). 

(c) In the improbable event of a Player or part- 
nership making more than one "Ringall" 
(uncaught) in a Round, the same thing must be 
done by an opponent, or the one that has done it 
claims the game as against all other scoring. 

(d) In regard to the possible making of two or 
more "Ringalls" (uncaught) in a Round, in cases 
of partnerships, and for the purpose of deciding 
which side has won, each pair of partners shall 
be regarded as one individual, and whatsoever 
is accomplished by them, jointly or separately, 
shall be regarded as the act of the partnership as 
an individual. Thus two "Ringalls" made by 
one person are exactly equal to one each made by 
two partners. 

To Rule XIII. 

(a) If the ball, after being struck by the Player, 
and after passing the baulk-line, &c. (see Fol- 
lower A to Rule VI.) 

(b) If the ball after being struck by the Player, 
be obstructed by the Feeder, it shall be reckoned 
as if it had lodged in the court. If, how- 
ever^! ball strike or touch the Feeder and then 



25 

pass on, it shall be allowed to come to rest, and, 
if it be found to have passed beyond the back-line 
of the court, it shall be accounted a Failure, but 
otherwise it shall be reckoned as having lodged in 
the court. 

If the ball, after striking the Feeder, shall strike 
a second person within the bounds of the distance 
from the Feeder's stand to the back of the court, 
the stroke shall be played over again, unless the 
ball pass, of its own accord, beyond bounds after 
all. If, however, such a ball, after striking the 
Feeder, be wilfully obstructed by the Player's 
partner, and so kept within bounds, it shall be 
accounted a Failure; on the other hand, if such 
ball be wilfully obstructed by the Feeder's part- 
ner before passing out of bounds, it shall be 
regarded as having lodged in the court. 

In case of this stroke being played over again, 
it shall not be possible for the Player to be put 
out as for a miss, whatever may be the result of 
the second attempt — yet a Failure may be reckoned 
against him — but, if he succeed in scoring, it 
shall count. 

(c) The Fags must avoid obstructing any but 
truant balls. A ball which has struck the Feeder, 
and so turned aside, is not a truant ball until it 
pass behind the court. 

(d) If the ball strike the post or ring after being 
struck by the Player, and if it do not lodge in the 



26 

court, it does not score on the ground of obstruc- 
tion, as it would have done if obstructed by the 
Feeder. 

REMARKS and SUGGESTIONS. 

Although the Rules have been drawn out at 
considerable length, and provide for different 
contingencies, the game, as a mafter of fact, is 
very simple in actual playing, and, as skill is 
acquired, becomes exceedingly fascinating. 

The following hints should be carefully read : — 

I. 

It is advisable that the same person should go 
in as Player at the commencement of each 
game, and the same rotation of Players be main- 
tained, so as to avoid mistakes. 

In partnerships it may be advisable to change 
the Feeders with each game, so that each Player 
may have a fresh opponent to feed to him. 

II. 

A simple plan of keeping count of the number 
of Failures made by the Player, in case of there 
being no regular marker, is for the persons play- 
ing to have each five pebbles or marbles, one o 
which may be dropped in a convenient place for 
each Failure, and picked up again when a score 
is made, or when a Player goes out. 



27 

III. 

The shape of the rim of the Feeder's ring is 
specially designed with a view to affording great 
visibility and certainty as to how the ball has 
passed ; nevertheless a question or dispute may 
sometimes arise in case of a swift ball skimming 
the rim very closely, as to whether or not it has 
passed through. Such a question will naturally 
be referred to the Umpire when there is one, and, 
if he should be in any doubt, he may ask the 
opinion of- spectators. 

When a person standing to the right or left of 
the ring is of opinion that the ball did not pass 
below or above the ring, and those facing it are 
of opinion that the ball did not pass to the right 
or left, it is pretty safe to conclude that it passed 
through. 

IV. 

As so much depends on the success of a 
"Ringo " or " Ringall " stroke, and uncertainty 
is very awkward, the inventor has designed the 
double ring, consisting of two united squares side 
by side, through one of which the Feeder must 
feed the ball, and through the other of which 
the Player must drive it in " Ringo " and " Ring- 
all." 

In this latter ring a signalling device, or 
annunciator, is arranged, which obviates the like- 
lihood of any uncertainty as to "Ringo," &c, 
and leaves only a very slight risk of uncertainty 



28 

as to "no ball," in regard to which question the 
Umpire may, if in doubt, reasonably decide in 
favor of the Feeder when the ball has perhaps 
passed over the ring, but reached the Player at a 
convenient level; and in favor of the Player when 
the ball has perhaps passed under the ring, or by 
the side of it. 

V. 

The rule relating to obstruction by the Feeder 
(see Follower B to Rule XIII) is the result of very 
careful consideration. 

To avoid any risk of questions of unfair play, 
it was necessary to make it to the Feeder's own 
interest to avoid obstructing balls, As a lady 
may, because of her dress, be somewhat more 
liable to obstruct a ball unintentionally than a 
gentleman might be, the difficulty may be dealt 
with by allowing a lady a few points, say five, as 
a set off against the chance of her unintentionally 
helping the score of a gentleman opponent. 
This is better than any departure from the rule. 

The followers E and F to Rule VII are also 
the result of careful consideration as well as ex- 
perience. In actual play they will be found sim- 
ple and practical. 

VI. 

It will be seen that, according to the Rules, 
the Feeder may always safely attempt to catch 
the ball when " Ringo " is played for, as no harm 



29 

can result from obstruction ; on the other hand, 
it is important to be sure that the ball has passed 
through the ring in case of an expected ^Ringall," 
or the Feeder may give the Player an advantage 
by obstructing the ball when it has not passed 
through. It needs a smart Feeder to avoid ob- 
struction on the one hand, and to restrain himself 
from ridiculously clearing out of the way of the 
ball after " Ringall " on the other hand. It may 
happen that the Feeder will only realize that 
"Ringair has been made after he has deliberately 
allowed the ball to pass him uncaught. The 
annunciator is, of course, a great help to the 
Feeder in case of " Ringall" being made. 

VII. 

To beginners the game may seem rather 
monotonous, because they score so slowly, and 
the Player so often goes out without scoring, but, 
with skilled Players, the trouble is rather the 
other way; they are likely to score fast and stay 
in too long, insomuch that, with such experts, it 
is better to bar the self-fed court stroke while 
maintaining the rule of five Failures and out. 

VIII. 

Two widths of bat are provided with the 
equipment — the ordinary bat of ij{ inches wide, 
and the match bat of i inch in width. By the 
use of a smaller ball instead of the Tennis 



30 

size, the difficulty of the game may be further in- 
creased in the case of very expert players. 

IX. 

The marker-board is provided with four dou- 
ble rows of holes, so as to score for four persons, 
and will count up to ioo each, so as to allow 
ample margin over the "game" of 50. There are 
also holes to mark the number of games won by 
each person, and two rows of five each to keep 
count of the Failures, one row marked S and the 
other F, the one for Failures commencing with a 
self-fed ball, and the other for those commencing 
with a feeder-fed ball: it will be obvious that, in 
an odd number, if the Failures commence with 
one or the other, they will terminate with the 
same: this provides a double check. 

It will be seen that the post of marker is no 
sinecure, as he should take note of the result of 
every stroke. 

X. 

The number of Failures, given in Rule VI as 
necessary to put the Player out, may be varied 
at pleasure by mutual agreement. Among ex- 
pert players, a smaller number may be desirable. 

XI. 

Old Tennis racquets may conveniently be used 
by the Fags, especially by ladies, to stop or pick 
up stray balls. 



3i 

N. B. — When the court is marked out with 
cord, it is hardly possible for a ball to lodge actu- 
ally on the line, but, in case of this happening, as 
regards the back and side lines of the court, the 
same rule should be applied as in Tennis, that, on 
the line is in the court. On the same principle, 
if the ball should lodge on the baulk-line, it would 
be reckoned as within Baulk, and the Player 
would be out accordingly. Moreover, if the ball 
should lodge on the front line of the court, or 
exactly on one of the front corners, it may reason- 
ably be reckoned as not having entered the court 
at all. 

Other questions may arise, owing to peculiari- 
ties of the ground or surroundings, which can 
only be settled by the use of common-sense, in 
the spirit of the Rules. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

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